Into the Fire (15 page)

“I guess he’s not home.”

“Hang on. I’ll text him.” Cara takes out her phone and types,
It’s me.

A minute later the door opens. Even with what Nick’s been through, his eyes light up at the sight of Cara. Well, damn.

I’m willing to bet my leather jacket that he’s into her. If he hadn’t just found a dead body, I might not be able to control myself right now.

Cara

Nick is a wreck. A complete wreck. His usually perfect dark hair is disheveled, and his clothes look like he slept in them. I step forward and pull him into a hug. He isn’t the hugging type, but he’s just going to have to get past it, because whether he likes it or not, this is what he needs right now.

“Are you okay? It must have been awful.”

He steps aside, motioning for us to come in. “I’m trying not to think about it. I don’t understand why anyone would want to hurt Mr. Baker. He was so nice.”

“I know.” Only I do know why someone might want to hurt him—to steal his essence. “What were you doing at his house anyway?”

“He asked me to stop by and take a few bags of clothing down to the shelter for him. He said he didn’t want to throw out perfectly good clothes when there are people who need them.”

“I thought Henry got around pretty well,” Logan says, stepping closer to me. “Why didn’t he take them down to the shelter himself?”

“There was too much for him to carry. We were going to do it together.”

I reach out and rub Nick’s arm. “I’m so sorry.” His eyes fall on my hand. We’ve never really touched much in the time we’ve known each other. I’m probably making him feel worse instead of better. At least my body temperature is staying under control. Being around Logan is forcing me to be mindful of it at all times. I put my hand back down at my side, and Logan laces his fingers through mine.

“What can I do?” His parents aren’t home, as usual. They work all the time and spend most weekends in different cities all over the globe. “Have you told your parents?”

“Yeah. They can’t get flights back for a few days, though.”

“Where are they?” Logan asks, scanning the empty house.

“Um…” Nick rubs his forehead. “Man, I can’t even think straight. I think maybe they’re in Tokyo.”

“Tokyo?” Logan’s eyes widen. “And they just leave you here alone?”

Nick shrugs. “They work for the same company, and they handle the overseas divisions. It means they have to travel a lot. I don’t really mind. The alternative is that I go with them, but I’d be traveling all the time and wouldn’t have any friends.” He gives me a weak smile, and I elbow him lightly.

“Do you want to stay at my house?” Logan asks. “You know, so you’re not alone.”

I want to kiss him for being so sweet.

Nick shakes his head and shoves his hands in his pockets. “Nah. I’ll be okay. I was thinking of having a party, though. Something to take my mind off things.”

“A party? You can’t be serious. Mr. Baker just died. Who’s going to want to party?” No way is Mom—or any other Phoenix—going to approve of this.

“
I
want to.” Nick kicks the table in the entryway, and I notice one shoe is untied. He really is a mess. “If I don’t do something, I’ll just sit here and think about Mr. Baker. He was so…”

“Don’t.” I rub his arm. “If you need to have a party to get over this, then Logan and I will help you.”

Logan cocks his head at me. He doesn’t get it, but I’m hoping he’ll go along with it for me.

“Thanks.” Nick rocks back and forth. “I guess I need to call some people.”

“I’ll tell Rachel. She’ll handle the guest list.” I’ll have to tell her not to go crazy. I don’t want to have a raging party the night Mr. Baker died.

“Wait.” Logan holds his hands up. “Are we really doing this tonight? I mean, I haven’t been living here long, but don’t you think people are going to complain? A man died today. How are we going to explain living it up?”

I look at Nick’s downturned face. “I hate to say this, but Logan’s right. We can’t do this tonight. It’s too much.”

“We should wait until after the funeral,” Logan says, squeezing my hand.

I nod. “Anyone know when it is?”

Nick shrugs.

Mom will know. “Let me find out, and then we’ll take care of everything for you.” Nick nods, but he doesn’t even look at me. I let go of Logan and step closer to Nick. “I know this isn’t going to help you with getting the image of… I don’t want anyone to think badly of you or anyone else for having a party during something like this.”

“I know. You’re right, I just—” He runs his hands through his hair. “I’m going to call Rob. He’ll keep me distracted.”

“Just make sure he doesn’t keep you drunk.” Drinking is Rob’s answer for everything.

“Cara, don’t.” Nick holds his hand up to me. “Don’t try to be my stand-in mom, okay? I appreciate your concern, but I can handle myself.”

“I’m just worried about you.”

He opens the door for us. “I’ll be okay.”

I don’t want to leave. I’m not at all convinced he’s going to be all right, but Logan steps outside, pulling me with him. Nick shuts the door before I can even say goodbye.

Logan runs his thumb across the back of my hand as we walk to the café, where my car is parked. “He seems okay, considering.”

He doesn’t know Nick. Usually, nothing rattles him, but this definitely has. I don’t know what to do. Normally, when something bad happens, I hang out with Rachel or at Monique’s, but neither seems like a good option right now.

Logan’s unusually quiet, so I don’t think he’ll be up for hanging out either; not that I really can. Mom must know I sneaked out by now, especially since I checked on Monique. “You okay?” I ask him.

“Yeah. It’s just been a crazy day.”

That’s an understatement. I feel awful for almost forgetting about his accident. “Sorry. You’ve only been in town for a few days and already you’ve been to the hospital, had to get checked out by the paramedics after being hit by a car, and had to deal with a murder. You must think you moved to hell.”

He doesn’t say anything, and I wonder if he’ll run back to New York before morning. Maybe that would be the best ending for us. For him, anyway.

“Ashlan Falls has always been so calm and peaceful.” We’ve never had any signs of a Hunter nearby. “Now, everything’s changing.” I look at the closed sign on Monique’s. “Like that. The café hasn’t been closed as long as I’ve lived here.”

“Then let’s reopen it.”

I wrinkle my brow. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m sure Monique wouldn’t mind. We can cook dinner and try to cheer this town up.”

I stare at his blue-gray eyes, pleading with me. “That’s not fair, you know.”

“What?”

“The way you look at me sometimes.”

“Is it that obvious when I want to kiss you?”

My heart jumps. “I meant the way you can look at me and make me give in to you.”

He smirks. “Good to know.” His tugs my hips closer until we’re pressed up against each other. I can feel his heart beating, and thankfully it’s pounding right along with mine. He cups my face in his hands and lowers his mouth. “I definitely have a new addiction to cinnamon,” he whispers, his lips brushing mine as he speaks.

We kiss like we aren’t standing in the middle of the sidewalk where anyone can see. I clutch his jacket in my fists, because I don’t want to let him go. It’s like the old Cara, the one I’ve known all my life, is gone, and there’s this new girl in her place. A girl who isn’t afraid to fall for the mysterious new guy, to jump right in without overthinking every step along the way. A girl who isn’t about to die and be reborn.

A car honks, making us both jump. Rachel leans out the passenger window as Rob pulls his Nissan up to the curb. “Get a room!” Rob yells. Rachel smacks him and smiles at me.

“Good to see Logan’s taking care of you. I was afraid you’d be a wreck over the news.” That’s Rachel. She thinks making out is the cure for everything. After kissing Logan, I’m not sure she’s wrong.

“It’s awful, isn’t it? We just left Nick’s. He’s pretty shaken up.”

“Nothing a little beer can’t fix,” Rob says, holding up a six-pack.

“Smart,” Logan says. “Yell that when the police station is just across the street.”

I laugh. Rob can really be an idiot sometimes.

“Call me later,” Rachel says. Her face lights up, almost seeming more youthful. I would’ve thought she’d be shaken up over Mr. Baker’s death.

I wave to her as Rob pulls away. At least Nick will have them to help him get through the night. He shouldn’t be alone right now.

“What’s the deal with them?” Logan asks.

I roll my eyes. “Rachel’s been in love with Rob since we were in middle school. No idea why. That’s the only reason I hang out with him.”

“And Nick?” I can sense Logan’s jealousy.

“Nick’s actually really cool. He came here at the start of high school. Other than you and me, he is the only transfer student we have.”

“No way.”

I nod. “Ashlan Falls is a freaky little town, but it’s home.”

“And how’d you meet Nick?”

“You’ve seen what it’s like here. Everyone meets the new guy.”

“Okay, but you became friends with him. Why?”

“He actually became friends with Jeremy first.” That’s why I like Nick so much. “Most people don’t understand how close Jeremy and I are.” Were. I’m still not sure if we’ll ever be that close again. “Nick got it right away. Plus, I think he always wanted a little brother, so he sort of adopted mine. His family is kind of nonexistent.”

Logan squirms. He’s avoiding something.

“You want to know if I ever hooked up with him.”

He shrugs.

Why didn’t I guess that sooner? “The answer is no.”

“Never? He’s a decent-looking guy.” He looks away, like the words are painful to say.

“More than decent, if you ask the girls at school.” I can’t help teasing him. He must know I’m crazy about him.

“I don’t care what they think.” He steps closer and hooks his finger through my belt loop. “I care what
you think.”

My heart beats faster, and I feel hot—much hotter than a normal person. I take a deep breath and focus on lowering my body temperature. “I don’t normally hang out one-on-one with guys.”

“You don’t date?”

“No.”

“Why not?” He tilts his head to the side like he’s trying to figure me out.

“I never found anyone I really clicked with as more than a friend.” It’s not a lie, even though it’s not exactly the truth either. I’ve never met a Phoenix boy my age, and dating a human boy is dangerous. No one’s been worth the effort… until Logan.

“So why am I any different?” He’s not fishing for compliments. His face couldn’t be more serious.

“I could tell you were different. The day I met you, you just… made an
imprint
on me.” Using the correct term for it actually makes me feel a little better—like I’m telling him the truth.

He cocks his head to the side. “An imprint?”

I shrug. “It’s the only way I can think to explain it. I saw something in you that day. Something that made such an impression I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me to him. “Well then, I guess you left an imprint on me, too, because I feel the same way.” He lowers his lips to mine, but they don’t stay there. They trail down my chin and to my neck. Yes, we’ve imprinted, all right, and the connection between us couldn’t be any stronger.

“Cara Tillman!” Monique yells. “Do you have any idea the trouble you’re in?”

Cara

I jump, nearly falling off the curb. “Monique, you scared me!”

“Your mother is going to do a lot more than that. She just called me and said you sneaked out.”

Logan shakes his head at me. “She’ll never like me if she thinks I’m the reason you’re sneaking out.”

“You’re not.” Not completely at least. “I had to check on Nick.”

Monique points to my car. “You get your sorry behind back home this instant. I’ll call your mom and tell her you’re on your way.”

Logan squeezes my hand. “Go. Before this gets any worse.”

“But—”

He presses a finger to my lips. “Please. If I can’t see you because your mom forbids you from hanging out with me…” He sighs. “I can’t lose you, Cara.”

“I’ll tell her why I really sneaked out. I won’t let you take the blame.” I touch his cheek, but Monique clears her throat. “Goodnight, Logan.”

He brings my hand to his lips and kisses the back of it. I can’t imagine him ever having done that to anyone else. The imprint’s changed him. I’ve changed him. It kills me to let go and drive away from him, but Monique is glaring and I know Mom will be ten times worse.

I force my eyes away from Logan and drive home with tears clouding my vision. It isn’t supposed to be this way. I’m not supposed to find the perfect guy right before my rebirth, and my mom isn’t supposed to hate him.

I pull into the driveway, and Mom is standing on the front porch, phone in hand. I cut the engine and step out, waiting for the yelling to begin. Mom doesn’t say a word. Her eyes are red, and she pulls me into the house, probably because she doesn’t want to scream on the porch where the entire neighborhood will hear. But instead of yelling, she hugs me, squeezing until my sides hurt. She’s scared. For me.

Finally, she lets go and looks me in the eyes. “We might have a Hunter on our hands and you decided to go out on your own, without telling anyone?”

So much for being happy to see me. “Nick found Mr. Baker’s body. I had to make sure he was okay.”

She raises her hands to the sides of her head like she’s ready to rip her hair out. The red in her hair actually ripples like flames. I’ve never seen her lose control like this before. She’s always so careful to keep her Phoenix abilities in check. “I’m sorry for Nick. That must have been awful. But you put yourself at risk. You could’ve been killed.”

“We don’t even know that it was a Hunter who killed Mr. Baker. His body didn’t turn to ashes.” We all turn to ash when we die, whether we’re being reborn or not.

“We don’t know that Henry’s body was capable of turning to ash anymore. His brain was injured. If he wasn’t a Phoenix, the injury would’ve killed him.” I know the story. Henry’s brother had tried to heal him, but he couldn’t. A Hunter intervened, and Henry’s brother was killed. Henry escaped in the chaos, but by the time he found another Phoenix, his injuries were already too far along to heal.